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QUINCY — U.S. Rep. William Delahunt prepared these remarks on Amy Bishop – who shot and killed her brother in Braintree in 1986, when Delahunt was the Norfolk County district attorney, and weeks ago allegedly killed three people in Alabama – and voiced them Monday, shortly before fielding questions from reporters.

“First, before we respond to any questions and express our concerns about this case – I think it’s important to review the roles and functions of the relevant agencies involved in this matter, as I think it is essential that the public understand the responsibilities tasked to the different law enforcement agencies.

“Let’s begin with the police. Local and state police investigate crimes. The police are responsible for processing the crime scene. Police collect evidence for forensic tests. Police initially interview witnesses.

“The police have the power to arrest. Or, if probable cause exists that an individual committed a crime, the police seek complaints in the relevant district courts.

“The police can also request that the district attorney present the evidence to a grand jury, for the purposes of seeking an indictment.

“Police departments have a ‘military-like’ chain of command. Local police act under the direction and authority of the police chief. In the case of the state police, a colonel is in command.

“Prosecutors – if warranted – take the evidence developed by the police, and present that evidence to a grand jury to secure an indictment. Or, if a criminal complaint is issued in the district court – at the request of the police – the prosecutor will try the case before a district court judge.

“It is also important to note that the vast majority of complaints in our courts are sought by the local police departments.

“So let’s be clear: District attorneys do not initially interview witnesses. They don’t process the crime scene. Nor do they collect the evidence for forensic tests. They do not seek criminal complaints in the district courts. They do not have the power to make arrests.

“However, in those cases of death, due to violence – whether by accident, suicide or homicide – the district attorney or his law enforcement representative shall direct, control and coordinate the investigation of that death with the office of the chief medical examiner and the police department in whose jurisdiction that death occurred.

“This is the law in Massachusetts. I know, because I authored it.

“And in Massachusetts, the state police detectives assigned to the individual district attorneys offices are his law enforcement representative, pursuant to this statute (with the exception of Suffolk County). It is also important to note, that it is the statutory responsibility of the medical examiner to establish the cause and manner of death.

“Now the death of Seth Bishop was initially investigated the Braintree police department, as evidenced by the numerous police department reports – including the ones that have been missing for the past 22 years – that all stated the death was accidental.

“Even public statements to the media, such as the report in the Boston Globe on December 8, 1986, where Chief John Polio stated ‘every indication at this point in time leads us to believe that it was an accidental shooting.’“

“This statement was made after the Braintree police had interviewed both Amy Bishop and her mother Judy Bishop on the date of the shooting.

“It is also critical to note that the medical examiner, Dr. William Ritter, filed a death certificate indicating that Seth Bishop had died from an ‘accidental discharge from a shotgun.’“

“The state police detective, Brian Howe, subsequently on December 17 – along with two Braintree detectives, Captain Buker and detective Mike Carey – interviewed the father, the mother and Amy Bishop. (They) concluded that the death was accidental and ‘no further investigation was warranted.’“

“The events that occurred subsequent to the shooting of Seth Bishop fell within the primary jurisdiction of the Braintree police department. It is the handling of that matter that gives rise to serious concerns and raises questions, which must be answered.”